Petunia plant named ‘BHTUN6202’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘BHTUN6202’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading to trailing and low mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; light red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BHTUN6202’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘BHTUN6202’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-flowering and uniform Petuniaplants with unique flower color and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Aug. 2, 2010 in Bonsall, Calif. of Petunia×hybrida‘USTUNI8902’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,895, as the female, orseed, parent with Petunia×hybrida ‘Asakura Roman’, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall,Calif. on May 12, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 12,2011, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BHTUN6202’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BHTUN6202’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading to trailing and low mounding        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Light red purple-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘USTUNI8902’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall,Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of‘USTUNI8902’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        ‘USTUNI8902’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI8902’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘USTUNI8902’ have darker red purple-colored        flowers with less distinct venation.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Asakura Roman’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall,Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of‘Asakura Roman’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Asakura Roman’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Asakura Roman’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Asakura Roman’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Asakura Roman’ have deep blue and        pink bi-colored flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUNI6001’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differedprimarily from plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were shorter than plants of        ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI6001’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ had bright pink-colored flowers        with less distinct venation.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘USTUNI153’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,856. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘USTUNI153’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘USTUNI153’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘USTUNI153’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘USTUNI153’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘USTUNI153’ had darker-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘BHTUN6202’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BHTUN6202’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late autumn in 15.24-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 38° C.,night temperatures ranged from 9° C. to 18° C. and light levels rangedfrom 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and werethree months old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘BHTUN6202’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUNI8902’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,895.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Asakura Roman’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days            at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days            at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading to            trailing and low mounding plant habit with about four            primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral            branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance;            pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 11.8 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 32 cm by 34 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Aspect: Initially upright            then falling outwardly. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to            144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; glandular.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146B; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; glandular.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform            flowers; flowers face mostly upright; freely flowering habit            with about eight to ten flowers developing per lateral            branch and about 100 flowers developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days;            flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to 85C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.8 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 4 cm.        -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 3 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 2.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.2 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex: Nearly round to broadly            acute. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe texture, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal lobe texture,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 70C. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 73D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74C;            venation, close to 70B; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 76C;            venation, close to 194B to 194C. Flower throat (inside):            Close to 76C; venation, close to 187C. Flower tube            (outside): Close to 76A to 76B; venation, close to N186D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded to slightly acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent; minute. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent; minute. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color: Close to 84D.            Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther            color: Close to 196D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 202D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.4 cm. Style color:            Close to 194C. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to            194A. Ovary color: Close to 146B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BHTUN6202’ asillustrated and described.